Chapter 3

" Oh. Sorry. This is my boyfriend Lucas Brannon.. and umm…you already know him because you're living with him. Parker finished quietly.
" Of course we've met baby." Lucas said before pulling Parker against him. Parker smiled at Jarod shaking her in in disbelief. She hadn't seen him in so long and here he was. At her school of all places.
Lucas looked at Parker then at Jarod as they smiled at each other. It was as if they were speaking a secret code with their eyes. Amy noticed a situation brewing.
" Huh. So Jarod let me help you unpack and you can tell me about what classes you're taking." Amy said.
" I don't want to impose…" he started to say.
" You're Parker's friend and that makes you my friend. So I'll be glad to help. " she smiled broadly and pulled him along. Jarod came back a second later.
" Hey Parker. He called
" Hey Jarod" she responded.
" Let's meet up tonight at our old time. We'll catch up." he said.
" Yes. Sure." she said uncomfortably as she felt Lucas' hand tighten around her.

Lucas watched behind the kitchen curtain as Parker came through the back gate to the pool house.
She knocked on the door balancing a pizza in the other hand. Jarod opened the door smiling.
Parker held carefully onto the pizza as Jarod spun her around in glee. Lucas felt a tug at his heart.
Why was he jealous of this new guy? He closed the curtain and went to the dining room to eat his dinner.

" Sweetie are you okay?" Lucas's mother asked.
" Yeah mom. I'm fine. Why?" he smiled
" I'm a mother. I ask questions." she kissed his forehead.
" Ok. I'm meeting with the ladies to go over things for the dance. Your father is in the study, don't let him forget to eat. He's too wrapped up in his work." she laughed
" I won't forget mom." he said. She yelled bye in the direction of the office place then left.

His father came walking out soon after his wife left. " Mmmh. Smells good in here." he said. Rubbing his hands.
Lucas stared down at his plate. " Dad, why is Jarod here?" he asked
" To go to school." he said.
" Why is he living here?" he asked
" We're being hospitable." his father said
" Dad. If he is able to go to the school. Why can't he pay for board like everyone else."
" We're been hospitable." he said again
" It was Parker's father wasn't …"
" Just drop it, okay." his father's voice rose.
" Fine." he mumbled as he looked at his plate. He knew his father was afraid of Mr. Parker. Why? He did not know. His father looked at him quietly as he made himself a plate, then came to sit next to Lucas.
" You don't like Jarod?" he asked.
" I don't know him." he said
" But ?.."
Lucas sighed. Him and Parker seem a little too chummy. He said.
" And you don't trust her?" his father asked.
" You know what. I do trust her." he said with finality, making himself believe it even though his head was protesting. He got up and took his plate to the sink. " I'm going to do my homework dad." he said then left.

There is no reason to trust a Parker. His father thought. They'll use you then toss you out as soon as they're done with you. He hated Mr. Parker. Not only for all the reasons that everyone hated him for. But also the for the fact that he always made him seem like a coward to his son. Mr. Brannon was a powerful man in many circles. But when it came to Mr. Parker he was just another man. HE WAS A COWARD! He push his plate away suddenly not hungry. He could have easily stood up to Mr. Parker. But if he did it would mean the death of his family and he wasn't willing to risk them.

"What's this?" Jarod pointed at the pizza.
" It's pizza Jarod. Come on have some." Parker laughed.
" Is it good?" he asked
" Yeah. It's good. Especially if you squeeze the jalapeno it." Parker licked her fingers.
" Fine." Jarod picked up a slice and looked at it.
" It's not a creature Jarod. Just eat it." she said.
He put the slice in his mouth taking a bite. After a couple of bites he smiled.
" It's very good." he smiled.
Parker laughed. She had forgotten how cool it was to introduce new things to him. It was just like old times.